Spring riding and racing is just around the corner and athletes everywhere are starting to think about their “A” races as well as secondary races to use for training and motivation. A given rule of thumb is that all races provide experience, training benefits, and act as a stage to assess your form. Because of that, targeting a handful of high and low priority races and events throughout the year can be useful as learning experiences and opportunities to dial in nutritional needs and race strategies. The question for many is, where to start?

Use your 2015 cycling goals as your compass. We talk more about goals in our blog post, but the basic take away is to make your goals SMART. As in, specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound. With that being said, you need to pick the right events during the cycling season to help you best achieve those goals.

Notably, not all events are equal. Some are harder than others. One approach is to use different course profiles, distances, and bike part options to mindfully select A, B, and C type races according to your training plans and race goals. Keep this simple reminder in mind – when you’re working toward a goal that’s important to you, the last thing you want is to face an obstacle or unexpected challenge. A successful season starts off right by planning ahead, getting your mountain bike in order, as well as, getting the gear and cycling accessories you need.

Now, which races will you do? There are many tours, races, and events to choose from in Colorado. While this isn’t a comprehensive list, following are some of our upcoming favorite events at BikeParts.com.

40 in the fork – Fort Collins – Saturday, June 27, 2015 – Registration is open now. This event is considered “one of the Front Range’s toughest mountain bike races.”

Rocky Mountain Endurance Series – Colorado. This race series offers the best variety of mountain bike racing in Colorado. Great for beginners to experienced racers including different distances. The series begins kicks off in late April with the Ridgeline Rampage. Visit their site for registration and series information and check out our Sneak Peak to the RME Series.

MTB radio – endurance calendar. For those that enjoy epic, longer mountain bike events. Check out the MTB radio endurance calendar. Following are a few of the fun event on tap through May.

April 18 – 6 Hours in Frog Hollow – Hurricane, UT

April 23, Fruita Fat Tire Fest – Fruita

April 25, Ridgeline Rampage – Castle Rock

May 1, 18 Hours of Fruita – Fruita

May 9, Desert RATS Classic – Fruita

May 9, 12 Hours of Mesa Verde – Cortez

May 9, Battle the Bear – Lakewood

May 16, Dirty Double Fondo – Salida

May 23, The Half Growler – Gunnison

May 24, The Origional Growler – Gunnison

May 29, Grand Junction Off-Road – Grand Junction

May 30, PV Derby, Elbert

May 31, The Great Bicycle Carnival for Kids on bikes

Planning your 2015 cycling season is a multi step process: Identify your cycling goals, dial in your bike, and select the events you are enthusiastic in participating. If you’re left questioning how to roll out your pre season training plan, well then, we’ve got you covered on that too. Check out our previous guides to get you training started or vista us at Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop.

It is no secret that some of the largest crowds in USA Pro Challenge history have been in Boulder, Golden and Denver, so why not put them all in one stage? That’s in fact what Stage 7 of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge is!

On August 24, the race returns to the site of some of the largest crowds in USA Pro Challenge history with a stage between Boulder, Golden, and Denver. Leaving Boulder on Colorado Highway 93, the riders will face several hilly and windswept miles as they head toward Golden. Through Golden, the riders will tackle the four-mile climb of Lookout Mountain. After a quick pass back through Golden, the race will head to Denver for three-and-a-half laps of an abbreviated version of last year’s circuit.

According to Rick Schaden, owner of the USA Pro Challenge, “The 2014 USA Pro Challenge is going to be the most exciting year yet.” “Boulder, Golden and Denver have been such great hosts over the history of the race, so we decided to work them all into the final day of competition. These three iconic Colorado cycling locations are going to create one grand finale!”

At BikeParts.com, we couldn’t be happier! As local supporters of the USA Pro Challenge for the past three years, we’ve welcomed locals, travelers, and tourist to road ride, mountain bike, and enjoy all the great cycling that Golden, Colorado has to offer. The week long race invites tourist from all over the country and world to our city.

As such, it makes Peak Cycles the perfect bike shop to coordinate all of your week long adventure travel plans. Are you considering shipping your bike to Colorado? What about picking up bike parts, tubes, or cycling accessories while you are visiting? Maybe even rent a bike? Whether your plans include a week long stay for the race or an exciting culmination to the race with Stage 7, bike parts.com is your cycling needs destination.

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this past Sunday morning. We all know what that means – six more weeks of winter.

Less daylight, cold weather and difficulty planning winter workouts all contribute to less time on the bike. But, if you want to get better, faster and more efficient on the bike, then guess what? You got to put your time in. So what do you do?

Fortunately, last year we wrote aboutWays to Pedal the Winter Blues Awaywith four suggestions to keep motivation high: build a support structure, set up the right training environment, get some visual stimulation, and compete. Yes, you read that last one right – compete. And not later in the season – now. Yep, most of the country is under snow and cold temps but competition is still going strong. On fat bikes that is.

Fat Bikes Are Big in Colorado, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and other parts of the country. And racing fat bikes is the ultimate in beating wintertime cycling blues. Aside from racing fat bikes to keep fit, what makes a fat bike so desirable?An Ode to the Fat Bike sums it up best.

“The big tires make you ride differently. The extra traction allows you to lean harder in to turns. The extra weight encourages you to take more time to absorb the surroundings. The knowledge that you can turn off trail and go exploring where you like is freeing. And the rooster tail of snow you kick up in turns and the slip-sliding through curves and down steeps feels ridiculous and hilarious and absolutely entertaining.” —Aaron Gulley

So get in on the action! Stop by Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop to ride, test ride, and buy a fat bike. Grab some bike parts, gear, extra tires and you’re on your way. All you have to do now is sign up for one of the upcoming fat bike races on the Western front! And, if you are uber competitive, check out this post on How to set up a fat bike tubeless.

With an enthusiastic ‘cross culture and a permanent course at the Valmont Bike Park, the 2014 Cyclo-cross Nationals in Boulder, Colorado is providing an exciting atmosphere for some hotly-contested races for Stars-and-Stripes jerseys.

Here is your guide to event planning, course intel, who to watch and where to heckle! Get your cowbell on!

In its first year, Peak Cycles gravity race team took 2nd overall in the Winter Park Trestle Gravity Series! We’re super proud of our racers as they finished ahead of many long-established teams!

What make them so successful? Of course, their awesome handling skills and great talent. But, we also have to tip our hat to the great mtb bikes and bike parts that help them race their best. You can spot our racers sporting the best helmets to keep those noggin’s safe.

Guess who is rocking the coolest bikes, the best bike parts, and crushing it in Colorado’s toughest mountain bike races?
You guessed it – Peak Cycles Racers!

We’re super proud of team riders Joshua Murdock and Weston Burcar who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in the overall Epic Singletrack Series at Winter Park! The Winter Park Epic Singletrack Series is a 6 series race with varying terrain, distances, and technical challenges. Navigating those challenging races takes skills, talent, and of course, good ‘ole reliable bike parts.

Congrats to all of our racers!

At BikeParts.com, we do all we can to support our competitive and non completive athletes. And while our racers can tell you, racing takes its toll on themselves as athletes, but also on their bikes. As we’re nearing the end of the XC and endurance mtb racing season, many are shifting their focus to the cyclocross season and to getting in as many good, long rides before we start seeing much cooler temps.

Good reminders for any race or ride includes starting your ride with a clean and lubricated chain, well lubed derailleurs, brake pads that are in good shape andtires have the appropriate air pressure. Stop by the Peak Cycles BIcycle shop to pick up any road parts or mtb parts you may need. Don’t forget to high five our racers!

Course strategies, break aways, riding in a small group or a large peloton – these are the thoughts and questions of cyclist wondering how to win at bicycle racing. With only about a month and half left of the Colorado cycling racing and touring season, many are filling up their calendars with the last big events of the season hoping to capitalize on the fitness gains made during the season. The Colorado races and tours on tap for August include:

08/17/2013

24 Hours in the Sage

Steamboat Stinger

TOUR de CURE Colorado

08/31/2013

Big Mountain Enduro – Durango

Grand Junction Off-Road

Steamboat Stage Race

Tour de Fat – Fort Collins

The best way to approach any of these rides is to come prepared: mentally, physically, and have fully inspected your bike parts. Functioning brakes are essential on the long, fast descents. Proper gearing can make or break your chance of making a climb. And, having the right bike tools, cycling accessories, and extra bike parts on hand make a difference between a stellar ride and a bail out.

Also, if you are looking to finish your season super strong, consider a bike fit. Leg strength, endurance, and fitness are at the heart of cycling speed, but without a proper bike fit, you are sabotaging your training efforts. The 2013 season is (almost) nearing the end. Let’s finish strong! Finish fast!